Col Muammar Gaddafi and his family vowed to never leave Libya as the regime
put on a united display of its faith in its own survival even as it promised
to reform.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the dictator’s second son, said that sweeping changes were possible – including an elected president and democratic freedoms – as long as no one demanded his father stepped down.

“The role of my father will be similar if you keep saying step down, step down he will not do it. You will get nothing.

In an interview with the BBC, Saif ridiculed suggestions that the family should go into exile.

“Its our country you want us to leave - to where? The Maldives, to the Caribbean? he said. “We are Libyans.”

A number of official sources said that Col Gaddafi was the “safety valve” for Libyan and would never leave the country. Libya’s opposition, supported by backers of the UN resolution authorising military action against the regime, has said the family must stand down

The family leading reformist voice has re-emerged after weeks in hiding to sponsor efforts to reach out to international critics.

Abdulati al-Obeidi, the acting foreign minister, returned to Tunisia after travelling to three Nato nations to outline Tripoli’s plans for talks on a ceasefire and a peace deal.

However the Turkish foreign ministry, which had signalled it was ready to play peace broker, said there was no sign of common ground.

"Both sides have a rigid stance," a Turkish Foreign Ministry official said. "One side, the opposition, is insisting that Gaddafi should go. The other side is saying Gaddafi should stay. So there is no breakthrough yet."

Moussa Ibrahim, the regime spokesman, said Col Gaddafi’s strong domestic support made him a guarantor of reform.

"We think he is very important to lead any transition to a democratic and transparent model."

State television broadcast pictures it said were of a car carrying Col Gaddafi as he greeted supporters late Monday at the Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli.

Although Tripoli was putting forward a united front for the first time in weeks, some officials signalled doubts that the regime could withstand the pressure from within and abroad.

A former prime minister – who also referred to Col Gaddafi as the safety value – broke down in tears when asked about pressure on the leader to leave. "This is a big trauma; of course there will be change," said Shrukri Ghanem, the head of the National Oil Company.